Algeciras is situated on the shore of a bay, opposite Gibraltar. From the Arab “Al-Yacirat-Aljadra” meaning “Green Island” the town was in Muslims hands until 1342, when it was conquered by Alphonso XI. Twenty five years later it was reconquered briefly by the King of Granada, Mohammad V, who razed it to the ground before abandoning it to the Christians. In 1704, coinciding with the loss of Gibraltar, the town was repopulated by many of those forced to leave the Rock. The town contains many vestiges of its past, such as the tombs dug into the rock face belonging to either the Bronze or Iron ages. For centuries Algeciras was a strategic importance as the port linking Spain and Africa. Currently its port is one of the most important in the Mediterranean, with regard to both fishing as well as commercial shipping and passenger transport. These elements have combined to make Algeciras a modern town subject to constant change. Of interest are the Chapel of Nuestra Señora de Europa (17th Century) and Parochial Church of Nuestra Señora de la Palma.
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Worth visiting are la Plaza Alta, the “Ingeniero Torroja” market, La plaza de Andalucia, the white-walled area of Barrio de San Isidro with its narrow streets, or the beautiful Parque de Maria Cristina, without forgetting to enjoy the sun and swim in beaches such as La Playa de Rinconcillo or Getares. Travelling along an attractive coastal road, which overlooks the dazzling Straits of Gibraltar and the African coast.
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